Method of shell construction



L. M. M BRIDE ET AL METHOD OF SHELL CONSTRUCTION Aug. 18,, 193-1.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1931 my. a

I N V EN TORS A TTORNEY.

Aug. 18, 1931. 1.. M. MCBRIDE ET AL 1,819,106

METHOD OF SHELL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zew/Jfl Z'MWr/ck fra /rim; BY

A TTORNE Y.

V Patented "Aug. 18, 1931 am F on LEWIS M. MCBRIDE, or FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, AND FRANK B. HALE, or 3E1. AIR, MARYLAND METHOD or SHELL CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 2-6, 1931. Serial No. 525,563.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Gov ernment for Government purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates in general to projectiles and more particularly has reference to an apparatus for, and a method of, stabilizing the flight of liquid containing shells.

The present invention as will be later understood, is directed primarily to stabilizing the flight of liquid filled projectiles fired from rifled muzzle loading mortars. It will be further apparent, however, that the invention is adaptable to all types of liquid 7 containing shells.

It is Well known that the true flight of projectiles fired from various types of rifled. ordnance p1eces,results from the rotating mot-ion imparted to the same by the engage ment of a band fixed thereon, with therifling in the barrel of the piece from which the shell isfired. In obtaining the true flight of a stable projectile by rotation of the same, greater accuracy and an'increased range is achieved so that the advantage of stabilizing rotating liquid filled projectiles which have heretofore generally tumbled in flight will be manifest. v v

The relation of the weights of the projectile andthe contained liquid is the principal factor as regards the stability of a rotating liquid filledshell flight. If'the Walls of the j projectile are thick so that the weight of the contained liquid is negligible, and the liquid 5 is centered on the longitudinal axis of the shell, it is manifest that a liquid filling under these conditions will not greatly affect the flight of such a projectile.

In the instance where a thin wall projec- 0 tile is filled with a liquid, however, it would be appreciated that the inertia of the liquid on firing will initially set up a counter rota- 7 tion of the liquid in the projectile and subsequently the frictional action of the con- .45 tained liquid on the inner walls of the shell will-tend to dampen the motion of the same so as .to-brake-the rotational velocity of the shell, and cause tumbling or wobbling.

vision for rotating the contained liquid with the projectile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotating liquid containing proj ectile with which true flight and maximum range may be obtained.

- VVit-h these and other objects in view which may be incident to our improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several elements comprising our invention, may be variedin construction, proportionsand arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

- In order to make our invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a top view of a liquid containing projectile showing a plurality of vanes mounted therein for rotating the contained liquid with the projectile.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View of a projectile equipped with the vanes shown in Figure l.

Figure 3is a top view of another form of. vane arrangement.

Figure 4 is fragmentary sectional view of a liquid containing projectile having the baffle or van' arrangement shown in Figure 23, mounted therein.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the top of a liquid containing projectile showing still another form of baffle or vane mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the projectile shown in Figure 5 showing the baffle mounted therein, in elevation.

VJ e have discovered that the flight of projectiles having a high percentage of the weight in the form of liquid or semi-liquid, may be stabilized, by mounting suitable baffies or partitions therein, so as to cause the contained liquid to rotate with the projectile. It will thus be appreciated that thin wall projectiles adapted to be filled with liquids or low melting solids which become liquid or semi-liquid, may be stabilized in flight as well as the thick wall shells previously employed in which the weight of the contained liquid is small compared to the weight of the shell.

In providing bafl'les or vanes in-a liquid .casing within a projectile, it will be appreciated that rotation of the shell will impart a similar rotational velocity to the contained liquid so that the inertia of the liquid will become a minor quantity and there will be no appreciable friction between the liquid and the )lOjQCtllO in flight which will tend to dampen. or retard the rotation of the shell.

It will of course be apparent that the exact construction of the baffles will vary accord ing to the particular type of shell which it is desired to stabilize. It may generally be borne in mind that short lengths of partitions or vanes may be suitable for projectiles in which there is a moderate weight of liquid as compared to the weight of the metal composing the projectile. In other shells, however, such as the type which is deemed the most efficient for use in connection with muzzle loading rifle mortars where the weight of the metal is small as regards the weight of the contained liquid, it may be necessary to extend the vanes or the baffles the full length of the projectile.

In connection with this invention, it will be appreciated that projectiles of various types for containing liquid may have the walls composed of much thinner and lighter metal, so that the quantity of contained liquid may be greater than was ever heretofore contemplated. Vith suitable baffles or vanes mounted therein, the shell may be stabilized for true flight and long range, although the liquid filling constitutes practically the total weight of the loaded shell.

Referring more particularly to the accom panying drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a shell having a form of vane arrangement mounted therein, in which a plurality of longitudinal baffles or partitions are secured on the liquid casing thereof and attached to the projectile body so as to rotate the liquid filling the shell. The device shown in Figures l and 2 consists essentially of a plurality of rectangular plates 2 having the longitudinal inner edges connected to a central tubular member 3. The tube 3 is centrally attached to a cup 4 seated in, the bottom of the liquid casing and shaped to conform with the contour thereof.

The baflie plates 2 are secured in position by a plurality of circular bands 5 fitting in notches provided in the outer edges of the vane so as to present a flush surface therewith. The bands are preferably attached to the plates at the ends opposite the cup and at the center as shown. The baffle unit may be fixed in the liquid casing of a pro jectile by spot welding the circular band 5 and cup 4, although it will be apparent that the same may be fixed in any other desirable manner.

The mobile nature of the liquid filling makes it desirable to allow communication between the different compartments formed in the casing by thebafl'le unit. For this purpose, a plurality of apertures 6 are provided in each of the vanes.

It will be appreciated that if the compartments were all liquid tight and each compartment loaded to the same degree, it would not be necessary to have inter-communication therebetwcen. As such :ract loading is not usually obtained in economical shall production and filling, however, it is deemed desirable to provide apertures 6 or other means of communication so that the height of the liquid in the several compartments may be self-adjusting.

It will be apparent that in a liquid containing projectile having the bafiie unit described therein, the liquid filling in the several compartments of the projectile will rotate with the projectile and counter-movement between the liquid and projectile which might act to detrimentally affect the rotation of the projectile and cause it to become unstable in flight, will be eliminated.

As hereinbefore described, it will be apparent that the length or number of partitions or vanes in the manner of mounting may be varied to suit the particular type of shell in which it is desired to install the same, according to the thickness thereof. and the relative weight of metal composing the projectile body and the contained liquid.

Another type of baffle arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4: in which three rectangular plates 7 are connected by strips 8 flanged as at 9. The strips 8 are arranged to form a triangle in crosssection, the flanges being juxtaposed and the outer edges of the plate 7 being interposed therebetween so as to form three radial partitions making an angle of 120 to each other with a central longitudinal opening between the inner edges thereof, as distinguished from the plates 2' shown in Figure 1, which make an angle of 90 to each other and terminating adjacent a central tubular member.

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown still another form of battle arrangement in which a pair of plates 11 are formed with central longitudinal semi-cylindrical grooves 12 and side flanges 13 are juxtaposed so as to divide the liquid casing of the shell into two compartments semi-cylindrical in cross-section. The respective plates are spot welded together so as to form a single piece. The top of the baffle is cut away as at 14 to provide for receiving the closing head of the shell and at the bottom is provided with a notch 15 as shown in Figure 6, so as to allow for maintaining the liquid level in both compartments. Y

The baflie formed by the plates 11 is adj acently provided with a series of staggered apertures 16 and 17 In this manner, while liquid contained in the projectile may flow from one compartment to the other, the same will nevertheless be caused to rotate the shell in flight. It will be manifest from the foregoing that the length, shape and position of the baflles within a liquid carrying rojectile may be varied according to the particular requirements which it is sought to obtain.

There is accomplished by this invention, a baflie arrangement for mounting in liquid containing projectiles whereby the contained liquid is caused to rotate with the projectile in flight, without counter-movement there- 7 between. This results in stabilizing liquid containing projectiles in flight and obtaining greater range, without tumbling caused by the retarding action of a liquid in frictional contact with the fluid casing by reason of the inertia of the liquid.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having a plurality of longitudinally extending apertured radial partitions mounted therein forming separate communicating compartments. 1

2. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having a plurality of fixed longitudinal centrally connected radially extending partitions with apertures therein.

3. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having a central tubular member provided with fixed radially extending apertured baffles.

4. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having a pair of juxtaposed apertured members formed to provide a central longitudinally extending tubular member, a pair of fixed oppositely disposed radially extending partitions with staggered apertures therein.

5. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid casing having a central tubular member provided with a plurality of fixed radially extending apertured partitions secured in position by a plurality of bands.

6. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having a hollow longitudinally extending central member provided with fixed interior and exterior baflies.

7. A rotary projectile comprising a fluid containing casing having three longitudinal flanged members, the flanges juxtaposed forming a central member triangular in cross-section and three longitudinal radially extending plates having the outer edges interposed between the juxtaposed flanges, the inner edges of the plates forming baffles'inside the central member and the juxtaposed flanges and the outer edges of the interposed plates forming baffles outside the central member.

In testimony whereof we afl'ix our signatures.

LEWIS M. MoBRIDE. FRANK B. HALE. 

